Indy Blog

Rockies Today, Dec. 7

Ambre, Cloud Peak reach settlement on Montana coal mine disputeThe deal between Ambre Energy and Cloud Peak Energy will give Australian-based Ambre Energy full ownership of the Decker coal mine in Montana, while Cloud Peak Energy will get 1,200 acres of land near the Decker mine, as well as rail easements needed to develop a new mine in Wyoming.Seattle Times (AP); Dec. 7

Seven more groups ask Montana FWP to delay Milk River Ranch decisionThe Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission is expected to vote Monday on its portion of a deal to buy the Milk River Ranch, although a number of groups have asked the wildlife commission to delay that vote to give the public more time to comment on the purchase.Great Falls Tribune; Dec. 7

Report pegs cost of warming climate to winter tourism at $2B annuallyThe "Winter Tourism in Peril" report released Thursday by Protect Our Winters and the Natural Resources Defense Council said that warming temperatures and less snowpack could cut $2 billion annually from the $12.2-billion-a-year winter tourism industry in the United States.Denver Post; Dec. 7

Flow in Colorado's Animas River at lowest level in 102 yearsThe Colorado Division of Water Resources engineer in Durango said Thursday that the total flows in the Animas River in November hit a 102-record low of 9,209 acre-feet, beating the previous record set in 1934 of 9,374 acre-feet, and the flows in other rivers in that area of Colorado are also at near-record lows, with the LaPlata River flows the fourth lowest in 103 years, the Dolores River reporting third lowest flows in 96 years, and the Blue River in a stretch in downtown Breckenridge has nearly dried up.Durango Herald; Dec. 7

BLM investigating death of wild horses at Colorado prison training facilityNineteen horses died this week from a mysterious illness at the Wild Horse Inmate Program outside Cañon City, and the Bureau of Land Management is investigating the cause of the illness, while other horses and burros at the Colorado training area are being fed hay from a different source.Denver Post; Dec. 7

Wyoming trapper's photos on FB prompt federal investigationAfter an employee with Casper-based Wyoming Wildlife Services posted pictures of ensnared coyotes and other predators being harassed by dogs on his Facebook page, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which is a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture and the agency that oversees Wildlife Services, launched an investigation.Casper Star-Tribune; Dec. 7

Mountain West News is a project of the Center for the Rocky Mountain West at The University of Montana. It provides a daily snapshot of news and opinion in the Rocky Mountain region of North America, giving the changing mountain West a tool to understand itself and a platform for the exchange of ideas.